Quite some time had passed; Hemma and I automatically fell into the low-profile mode for a while.  Neither of us contacted the other.  Guess we really had nothing to say and I had so many questions all at once, but I didn’t.

Meanwhile Noori found more time to spend visiting my family and naturally that strengthened our bond.  We were not romantically involved, swear it!  

I’ll admit there was a whole lot of innocent flirting going on though.  It just seemed to happen, we’re young people here! and admittedly I was feeling very much unloved by my wife.  Hemma’s actions kept me at a distance.

My family didn’t stop or even suggest fewer visits from Noori.  I know it was because they saw more smiles upon my face and even some laughter escaped this broken young man.

One day the courier pigeons returned into my new-found comfort zone with a surprise message.  This time Hemma’s letter stated she had found a house for the two of us to live in together, sans parents aka no interference and about 3 kilometers away from either family home, in the town of Samabula.

This was her suggestion to try again, presenting a few choice thoughts I feel, in hopes of leading me into an agreeable decision.  I felt she was taking strides towards saving us.  

It was time for a family dialogue …what to do?  The closest members of the family to include, strong head on his shoulders mama, congregated shortly after I brought this proposal to their attention.  Clearly it was that important to all.  

After much weighing up, checks and balances, and most importantly my willingness to try one more time to make this marriage work, it was agreed, I should try again.  A couple of weeks later we moved into this house together.

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Mama    (mother’s brother in Hindi) for those of you who forgot LOL